Facile assembly for lamp-sockets



' APPLICATION FILED OCT-21,1916.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET mwm:

E. H. FREEMAN.

FACILE ASSEMBLY FOR LAMP SOCKETS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21. 1916.

l,36@,-6%5D I Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED EDGAR H.- EEEEMeNQOE ranmon, NEW J-EnsEir; Assmnoaf'ro E. H. FREEMAN ELaorRrc coMraNY, or 'rnniv'rom NEW. aEnsE'Y, a conroaa'rron on NEW IEEsEY. I

; Eacr E ASSEMB 51 a namr -socxnrs. i

I Specification a ma ent." iPatentedFeb; 22, 192.1.

Application' flled cetobei'ai, 191a. ste ming.

I T 0 all whom may concern 1- Be it knownthat I, Enamel-1 .FREEM'An, a citizen of the United'States', residing at- Trenton, in the county of Mercer 'and' btate of'New Jersey,- have "invented certain new and useful Improvements in Facile Assemlowing is a specification. 7 U

Thisinvent'on relates to an improvement inelectrical lamp sockets tofacilitate the blies for Lamp-Sockets, of which the fol- To this end the invention primarily has inview a' novel construction-for lamp sockets which provides a facile assembly of parts enabling the workman to assemble the socket witlylfacility in the most difiicult ositions,

as well aspermitting the reacly an easy re movalof. the socket parts-as occasion may require.- With the ordinary construction 'ot' lamp sockets, somer'locaticns and "conditions 7 render itex'ceedingly diflicult forthe work man to properlyv and securely place the socket in t positiorr and fasten to ether the socketparts, This"is particular y. true in applying the ordinary typesof lampfsockets to the so-called husk fixtures wherein a cover.

or 'huskentirely surrounds and covers the lamp sockets.

I tween' the socket parts, with the result of tion it,is:ex ceedingly difficult and "a "most impossible 'for .the workman to hande the socket parts in assembling the Sfi.m, W1th1noften leaving adangerous condition existing.

at-thefixture. H Furthermore, in' many forms ofco rue-- the narrow confines of thehusk orv cover.

And this isequallytrue in cases of sockets mounted on' fixtures in ,diflicult' and' not easily accessible locations where it is almost.

position. to be operated,

types of lamp soc bythe present-- invention, which provides .through the ex'pedient' "of a. simple an facile-assemblyoft-parts, a means whereby .the workman with ease, certainty and great facility, can quickly put together theparts In applying the ordinary sockets -to fixtures of that-'character,fthe" 'wires are frequently twisted, and insecure and incomplete fastenings am effectedlbe socketaJ e Fig; 2 is a vertical, sectionaljview, illustrating the first'step'in the operation. of ap- 'plying the improved lamp -'tion to'the lamp "fixture. I showingin full lines-the universal support-' of the s'ocket'and mount. the same in position'on the fixture .whether of thehusk or ordinary types, andat the same time, with- A further distinctive objectof the ihveh t1on resides'm the provision of novel means for supporting the lamp socket in such a manner that it may have'a universal adjustment about its longitudinal axis, thereb permitting .a-key type of socket to be a justed toany desired position.

A further object of, the invention is to "provide as a part-'of'the socket mounting, a "supporting member serving a number of useful .functions; tha'tis to say, a supporting member which permits of the-universal circular adjustment of the socket upon its longitudinal" axis, Wl1-ile'at ;the same time acting as a nut'e'lem'ent combining, with the socket body, to clamp in-posi-tion' awiring base carrying the binding terminals or plates, and also as. a nut 'elem'entt'o lock the socket huskv or cover in place whenthe' in-:

. vention is used withthat type of fitting.

With these; and other objects in view which will'beappreciated bythose familiar with this art, -t e invention consists in the novel "construction,j combination and ar-' rangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

The invention 1s necessar lysusceptibleot. structural change or modlfication without departing froin the principle thereof, 'but of the. invention is for -illustrative purposes a preferred and Y a shown "in' the "lac'coinpanying drawings,- in

1 I Figure 1 1s a sectional view of'an electri-' "cal lamp socket of the key type, constructed in accordance with this invention and shownj applied to a husk-fixture wherein a cover or husk entirely surrounds 'and covers thelamp.

racket; the view socket construcdotted lines illustrating the simple means of applying'said element.

Fig.5; is a similar-view showing byfldotted lines respectively the manner of connecting the wires with the wiring base and then drawing the latter to position within an against the supporting member. s

- finalstep in the operation of mountingthe Wiring base. a a

Similar reference numerals designatejcor responding parts throughout the several I socket jjconstructlon which preferably" and Flg. 4 is a similar view illustrating the socket, that 'is 'the 'step of applying the socket body to the wiring base and connecting it, b fasteners, to the unlversal-supdirectly cooperating elementsthereof;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinalsectional view of the socket body; the line of section-being indicated by the line 6'-6 of- Fig. 5 of'the drawings,- and the View also showing,- by

dotted lines, the supporting member and the figures of the drawings.

In carrying forward the invention the 1mproved socket construction maybe applied to any lamp fixture bracket or piplng w th out change or alteration therein, or in the fixture Wlth' which it is associated. Also, as indicated, a socket-embodying the present invention issusceptible 0 easy application in difficult positions-and locations, as

fo'r'inst'ance, in conneitionwithla husk fix-' ture, wherein it is almost impossible for the workman to apply the ordlnary socket. without meeting with the difficulties and objections heretofore pointed out.- -Accordingly, for .the purpose of illustrating the facility and easewith which the improved socket. construction may -beapplied and adapted td a husk fixture, afixture ofthis type is illustrated in the drawings. Refer-- "ring thereto, the numeral '1 deslgnates an ordinary fixture bracket" including -'the .usual': externally threadedppipe nipple-2 so ket covering 3 within which the socket" I v porcelain.orequivalentinsulatingimaterial" provided therein with the usual plug-receive ing opening '13 and "with a vchambered base V tothrough which the wviring is strung, and in the illustrated application. of the invention, the fixture may also nclude the husk or proper is to be mounted.

The husk 'or socket cover1ng3 is shown provided in, its side with the usual key-i socket "covering against the shoulder of the "pipe nipple.

The member ofthe improved socket con- .structionwhichmay perform the function of an interior nut element to clampthe husk the mai or coverin 1n position, represents one of the distinctive and'importa'nt features of the present invention. It constitutes what may be termed a universal supporting member, and is designated in the rawings by .the

porting member consists of a circular body 7 reference numeral 5. This universal supof sheet metal 'or .other suitable material,

'preferably'hollowed out to form an interior recess or space -6, and provided at its crown with a centrally disposed and in-' teriorly threaded attaching neck 7 adapted to bQ'SCl'GWGdOIltO the threaded pipe nipple 2 and against the inner side of the crown of the husk 111 cases Where the latter is used 'on the fixture. .In addition to its attachingneck 7, .jan'other feature of the universal supportingfmeinberfi is that'of the latter havmgan outturned holding flange 8, which is'providedtherein with a circularseries of equidistant threaded fastener holes '9,'

which constitute. keeper elements forthe member 5 constitutes one-member-"of ausually also includes. a socket, body :10 .carrying the} contact elements, anda' wiring base 11' carryingtheq-bindingw terminals or plates, Iand fwh'e'n the-{socket is applied to the fiiituregthe saidj member 5 constitutes Y the said other members of the socket. "This parts. as shown, and also regardless of the no "supporting.meinbertofwhichlis connected, "and 'l froni which is. supported; f

feature of the invention is. present'in all embodiments thereof regardless of. whether the wiring base and the socket body con- 'stitute a unitary structure or are separate.

fact whether the socket .is of the key .or of the keyless type. However, for the purpose, 1 of. better illustrating, the facilitywith which the present invention permits-azk ey 1.10 l socket of the -k ey;type1s show'nm the draw if: ings; In this illustrated embodiment of the.

socket to be-applied to a husk fixture, a

inventionit will be seen', particularly reference to Figs. 5 and, 6 qf thedrawingajp I 1 15 I 'tirety by the reference numeral 10,.includes that the'socket body, desig ated; in-its enin its organization abodyu member' m ofg ing 13 has fitted therein'in the' usual manner the screw shellcontact 15' and the centerf' plug conta'cth16, the former having-0on 'nected therewith a conductor screw .17. ex: tending through the base 14 ofthe' body member and electrica ly connecting with- .a

contact plate or equivalent contact element 18 arranged in operative. position at one end of the body member. This det'ail'of the electrical partsof the" socketbody is best seen in Fig. wot the drawings, and in 'thiscon chamber of ,the base 14 and electricall'y'coir' nection, it will also be noted that there may be utilized; in this forniof construction an nsulating cover or diaphragm 18? fitted over one endot the body member 12, so as to partly shield and cover the switch chamber. Y

-lhe other side of theelectrical circu1t within'the socket body is. completed through the. switch mechanismand-the center. plug contact-16. Thisl may be accomplished .in any way without'aifecting the present invention, but inthe-illustration thesaid' cen- ,ter-p'lug contact .16 is shown fastened to the base ofthe plug-receiving opening 13 by a;

combined fastenin and conduct ng screw 19, one end of wh-ic extends into the switch nects with the pressure or snap'- s prin'g200i. theswitch -me'chanism. This mechanism alsolincludes the usual :ke shaft 21 mounted.

- in suitable bearings 22 ormed at opposite sides 'of'the base-portion l4- and carrying" the usual switeh ke'y'K. and the rotatable switchblock 23 The switch block 23 is'engaged by'theffree' end portion of. the spring, and is located within one end portion of z the-switch. chamber in the' base portion 14,

' projections 28 adapted to engage with comso it may be shifted iii-position for operative engagementwith oneof the. binding plates carried by the wiring base 11', theother binding plate carried by said? base being.

adapted to bein electrical {contactwith the contact plate 18 when -th'e var1o'us parts of the" socket are fastened together and suppprted from-the supporting member 5.

The wiring base 11 ordinarily may consist of a circular block of porcelain or equivalent insulating material, and is chambered or recessed at one side to accommodate therein the oppositely arranged'bind ing plates 24 and 25, the plate 24 being adapted to-cooperate with the switch block 23, and the plate 25 being adapted for contact with the contact plate or equivalent contact 18 of the socket body. Each of the said bindingplates 24: and 25 carries the, usual binding screw 26 to which is-con-" nected one of the wire terminals which is- "lead through the fixture piping. In addition to the recessed formation at one side thereof, the body of thewiring "base 11 is formed on its upper side with a central annular' projection .27 constituting .what might" be termed a, projecting centering guide which has a registering enga ement and fit withinthe'recessed inner si e 6 of the supporting member 5.. Also the bod of the wiring base is preferably provide at one or more points with positioning guide plemental guide recesses or equivalent elements 29, the said elements 28 and 29 being adapted to interfit in order to properly locate the fastener elementsf' -carriedI"by .the i So ket, body, I I

As'indi'ca'ted, the sole fastening means for the socket construction. are carried by the socket body. These fastening meanslperform no electrical function and may .sim 1y ponsist of a pair of oppositely arranged as? t'ener screws 30"loosely mounted-in keeper Y openin s. 31,- formed longitudinally in the base pd rtionM oi" the socketmember 12, the heads of the said fastenersbeing eitposed'toand accessible through the plug-receiving opening of the socket :so that theworkman can eas ly and conveniently bringthe socket parts together and fasten them by a simple 1 act of manipulating a screw 'driver'through' the plug-receiving opening of the socket. I

.The saidfastener screw/s30 are of sufficient length tOEXbBHd afsubstantial distancefbe- .y'ond one end of'th e' socket"body,-so that they can pas ,tentirel'y through the retainer openings 32, extending through the body of the wiring base ll, theend portions of the fasteners 30 being threaded, so? as to engage any of the threaded-fastener holes in the holding @fl ange of the supporting -m'em.-

In applying" the improved socket co nistruction to the fixturebra'cke't it is simply necessary to'first placethel'universal supporting member 5- in the position shown in Fig; 2 ofthe drawings; This may be con engage diametrically opposite holes f the tubular shank carrying a suitable handle 36.

acter reterred'to. that the workman after pulling thewires out of, the pipe nipple to a: position where he can conveniently manipulate the separate wire termmals, thatit It is obvious in the use of a tool o'fthe char- 1 is only necessary to slip the member 5 and I the tool .34 over-{thewire and by means ,of'

the tool the supporting member 5 can be firmly screwed onto the pipe nipple 2. After thus positioning the supporting member 5,-the' wiring base 11 may be placed over the wire ends, as shown by the dotted linesin Fig. 3 of the drawings. thereby per- 12 0- mitting the wiring to be located within the central wire open1ng'37 of the wiring base and the separate wire ends secured tc the binding plates 24 and 25 by the binding I screws. 26. Then, in order to position the wiring base with the wire ends attached thereto, it is only necessary for the workman to draw the wiring back through the fixture with the result of carryin the wiring base into'clamping contact an registration with the supporting. member 5, thi8,.-- part of the assembling being facilitated-by v eluding in combination, ahollow supporting the automatic engagement of the annular guiding projection 27 with the central recessed part of the supporting member 5.

With the supporting member and the wiring base properlyfpositioned, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the socket body is then placed against the wiringbase with the fastener screws extending through the re-,

' carrying the binding terminals and an eletainer openings 32, thpslpermitting the said proved socket construction to a'husk fixture it is necessary to first slightly'tilt or incline screws to be screwed-into anypartof diametricallyopposite fastener holes 9 of the supporting member. In this connection, 'it

will be observed that when applying the imthe socket body,- asindicated by the dotted ating guide elements 28 an the workman in bringing the socket bodyand the wiring base together with the 'fastQIlBYsSQIIQWfiiiQill POSllilOIl to enter the relines of Fig. 4 of the drawings, to insert the key K through the key slot 4, after which the socket body is clamped against the wiring base in the manner explained. In the operation of assembling parts the coiiper- 29 serve to assist 'tainer openingsBQ in the-body of the wiring base. i

While the invention. has been described in connection with a socket of the porcelain uncovered type, it will be understood that the same is not limited to a socket of this kind because the improved features of con-. struction are equally well adapted to sockets which are inclosed within sheet metal casings consisting of the conventional sheet metal cap and shell members. Also it will be understood that various changes in the form proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

member havingfixture attaching means, a

vsocket body carryin .the two lamp terminals and the manual y actuated part of the switch mechanism, an intermediate wiring 4 base capped by said. hollow supporting mem- -ber and arranged to form a cover vfor one end of the socket body, the said wiring base ment of t he switch mechanism, and ,fasten- 'ing,means.carriedq by the. Socket body and having a holding engagement-with .the said hollow supporting member. v2. A lamp socket construction including a supporting member having. fixture attaching means, and a multiplicity; of keeper ,ele-

ments,'a.so'oket body carrying fasteners engaging with any of said keeper elements, and

aseparate wiring-base clamped between the.

socket body and the supporting member.

3. A lamp socket construction including a supporting memberhaving a circular series of fastener holes, a socket body carrying fasteners engaging any of said holes,.and a separate wiring base clamped by the socket body to the supporting member.

4 4. A lampsoCket construction including.

a supporting membenhaving atflan' eprovided with a circular series of threaded holes, a socket body carrying threaded fastenerscrewsengaging any of said holes to In testimony. whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' EDGAR H. REEMAN- .Witnesses" Y Gno. E. MAGUIRE, WILLIAM P.'HAms'. 

